Rendering drum



March 24, 1942. P. F. wARTwur RENDERING DRUM Filed Jan.Y 3, 1939Inventur' F. F. Ewa 1"l twcxu't Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNHTED STATESPATENT OFFICE RENDERING DRUM Paul F. Swartwout, Cudahy, Wis.

Application January 3, 1939, Serial No. 248,951

1 claim.

This invention appertains to process cookers, and more particularly tonovel means for facilitating the economical and expeditious use vofsteel or other tanks employed in the wet rendering of lard and similarprocesses.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide means forpreventing the loss of heat from the tanks during the rendering of thelard, whereby to not only reduce the cost of rendering. but to alsoprevent undue dilution of the product by excessive steam, and the costand labor of evaporating excess stick water resulting from the prolongeduse of steam.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide means for quicklycooling the tanks after the rendering, or other process, so as to reducethe time and labor incidental to the use of the tanks.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a novel jacketarrangement for the tanks, whereby to conserve heat therein during therendering process, and for facilitating the quick cooling of the tanksafter the rendering process.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an insulated jacketarranged in spaced relation to the tanks for insulating the tanksagainst heat radiation during the use of the tanks for a processemploying high temperatures, and for permitting the circulation of airor uid around the tank to facilitate the economical cooling of the tankafter the process has been completed.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a tank constructed inaccordance with my invention, the section being taken on line I-I ofFigure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line2 2 of Figure 1 looking i in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several Views, the letter Tgenerally indicates a tank employed in the wet rendering of lard, orsimilar processes. The tank T is of the usual or any preferredcharacter, and my invention relates to novel means for preventing theexcessive loss of heat from the tank, and for permitting the expeditiouscooling of the tank. Thus, the tank T, as shown, includes an elongated,hollow, vertical body 5, having a tapered vlower end 6 leading to alarge draw-pipe l. The flow of matter through the pipe 'I is controlledby a hand valve 8.

The upper 4end of the tank is closed by a head 9, which carries aremovable closure plate I0. By removing the closure plate I 0, the fator other subjects to be processed can be readily introduced into thetank. The head 9 has communimating therewith a steam inlet pipe I I, andflow of steam can be controlled through the pipe by the use of a valveI2.

In normal use, lard collects in the tank (after processing.) Aabove thedotted line indicated by the reference character I3, and stick watercollects in the tank from the dotted line I4 to the dotted line I3.Below the line I4 waste or residue matter is collected, and this mattercan be used for fertilizer. The stick water results from the condensingof the steam used in the rendering process and certain substances in thematter being rendered. This stick water is evaporated to form glue, asis readily understood by persons skilled in the art. Obviously, byreducing the amount of the water of condensation, time and money can besaved in the making of the glue. Draw-olf pipes I5 and I6 communicatewith the tank for facilitating the drawing oi of the lard therefrom.

In accordance with my invention, I place a jacket 20 around the tank,and this jacket is preferablyA formed from sheet metal, and is arrangedin vspaced relation to the tank so that an air space 2I is formedbetween the tank and the jacket. The jacket can be held in its properspaced relation to the tank by the use of suitable angle irons orchannel irons 22, as shown.

The jacket entirely surrounds the body 5 of the tank, and the lower endof the jacket has formed thereon, or secured thereto, an invertedfrusto-conical depending extension 23, which surrounds the lower taperedend 6 of the tank. It is to be noted, however, that the lower end of thejacket is open, and is spaced a greater distance from the lower end ofthe tank than the body of the jacket is from the body of the tank.

The outer surface of the sheet metal jacket is coated with a brightpaint, and is finally coated with a thick covering of insulation 24 ofthe desired character. The transfer of heat from the air space to theroom is checked by the bright exterior of the sheet metal jacket orsheath and the layer of insulating material 24. The space between theupper end of the jacket and the tank can be closed in any desiredmanner, and, as illustrated, the tank and its head is provided withoutstanding flanges Il, and the jacket can be secured to these flanges.

A relatively large air-conducting outlet pipe 25 is carried by the upperend of the jacket, and communicates with the air space 2|. A suitablevalve 26 can be arranged within the pipe 25 so as to control the flow offluid therethrough. In the present instance the valve 26 is in thenature of a butterfly damper, and the damper can be opened and closed bythe use of a handle 21 arranged exteriorly of the pipe.

In use of my device, the damper or valve 26 is closed, and the matter tobe treated is placed in the tank and the cover plate l is tightlysealed. Steam is now introduced through the pipe l I, and the fat orother matter is now processed for the necessary length of time. Loss ofheat is effectively prevented by the air space 2|, the sheet metal jack20, its bright coat of paint, and the layer of insulation 24. As undueloss of heat is prevented, a lesser amount of steam is needed.Consequently, money will be saved, and there will be less water ofcondensation in the tank. After the lard has been processed, and it isdesired to cool the apparatus, the butterfly damper or valve 26 isopened, and air is drawn through the jacket and out of the pipe 21. Asuitable suction fan or the like can be employed in the pipe 25, if sodesired. The flow of air between the tank and the jacket will take theheat from the tank and the jacket, and, thus, the tank can be quicklyand expeditiously cooled. The heat thus drawn oi can be used for anyother purpose as can be well understood by persons skilled in the art.

While I have stated that air is adapted to be drawn between the space,it is to be understood that the space around the tank can be completelyclosed by the jacket, and that cold water can be run between the jacketand tank to cool the tank, if this should be found desirable.

As there will be less stick water (condensation) left in the tank, lesstime and heat will be necessary to evaporate the stick water, which isnecessary in the making of glue from the stick water.

Changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit orthe scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

In a process cooker used in the wet rendering of lard and the like, anupright tank including an elongated body having a lower conical end,drawoif pipes communicating with the tank at spaced points, means forintroducing steam into the tank, an insulated jacket closely surroundingthe body of the tank in spaced relation thereto and conforming to theconfiguration thereof and dening a chamber between the same and thetank, a depending frusto-conical extension on the jacket opening out tothe atmosphere around the lower conical end of the tank, saidfrusto-conical extension being spaced a greater distance from theconical end of the tank than the spacing of the body of the jacket fromthe body of the tank, means between the upper end of the jacket and tankfor closing the upper end of the chamber, a large outlet pipe carried bythe upper end of the jacket and communicating with the chamber and anadjustable damper in said outlet pipe for controlling the flow of airtherethrough.

PAUL F. SWARTWOUT.

